Tehran Rejects Washington's Claims on Strait of Hormuz Re-opening

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The Islamic Republic of Iran has rejected the US Treasury Sec. Bessent's and Donald Trump's claims that the Strait of Hormuz will open tomorrow (Wednesday 5th August 2026) under a new deal

Tehran affirmed that the Iran-Oman Hormuz negotiations, held without US participation, are instead aimed at establishing an "intermediate corridor" that will halt both the current Iran-controlled northern and US-backed southern routes, giving Iran as a coastal state fully protected sovereignty, interests, and national security, Press TV reported.

 "Trump has violated his commitments, and Iran is moving forward with its plan to establish arrangements in the Strait independently of US threats, and it will succeed." 

 "Iran does not shape its interests and priorities based on schedule or demands of Trump."

The agreement with Oman would grant Iran total sovereign authority over all inbound maritime traffic, with Oman's limited role being to clear outbound vessels but only after notifying Iranian officials, ensuring Iran retains visibility and the option to intervene

American President Donald Trump sets a new deadline, giving Iran until the end of today to finalize a Strait of Hormuz agreement with Oman or face "devastating air strikes," per Bloomberg.

Trump adds "I want to give them every last chance before decapitation... You'll find out today."

The agreement with Oman however would not be something that Trump wants, a senior Iranian official tells reporters it would grant Iran total sovereign authority over all inbound maritime traffic, and Oman would clear outbound vessels only after notifying Iranian officials, ensuring Iran retains visibility and the option to intervene.

An Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday talks with Oman over transit in the Strait of Hormuz are ongoing, according to state media

"Talks with Oman are “positive” at the technical and political levels", the spokesperson says

Talks are focused on designating safe inbound and outbound lanes in the strait, he added

Iran's Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile

As per the U.S. blockade against Iran.  American forces claimed they have redirected 45 commercial vessels, disabled 2 and boarded 2 to ensure compliance.

Tehran sources indicated that Iran's Armed Forces may soon Deploy their significant Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile arsenal against US Warships to Break the Naval Blockade.

These Iranian Missiles have not yet been Used in the current War.

All options to compelling Iran to American and Israeli terms in the needless aggression have failed to yield any positive results.

US military investigation Confirms US Tomahawk missile hit an Iranian elementary school, killing at least 175 people, mostly children

 A preliminary US military investigation found that a US Tomahawk missile mistakenly hit an Iranian elementary school on Feb. 28, killing at least 175 people, mostly children. 

The strike happened because outdated targeting data labeled the building as part of a nearby Iranian naval base. - NYT

Meanwhile, UNESCO has warned that intensifying hostilities are already damaging cultural landmarks in Iran and the broader region, saying it has communicated with all parties to the conflict to coordinate protections for heritage sites.

Spokesperson of Iran's Armed Forces General Shekarchi has said if any threat is made against our ports, all docks and economic ports in the entire region will be our legitimate targets, and we will carry out operations heavier than those we have done so far.

All ports and docks in the region would become legitimate targets if Iran’s ports and docks are threatened, a senior spokesperson for Iran’s armed forces told state media on Wednesday.

“I deny the CENTCOM (US Central Command) statement claiming that naval vessels of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have hidden in commercial ports,” Abolfazl Shekarchi added.

Earlier in the day, CENTCOM said that Iran was using civilian ports along the Strait of Hormuz to conduct military operations that threaten international shipping.

CENTCOM warned Iranian dockworkers, administrative personnel and commercial vessel crews to avoid Iranian naval vessels and military equipment.

Also, reports has it that Iran will target economic and banking interests linked to the US ‌and Israel in the region after an attack on an Iranian bank, a spokesperson for Tehran's Khatam al-Anbiya military command headquarters said on Wednesday.

According to an AFP report, Tehran confirmed it is ready for a long war of attrition that would 'destroy' the world economy, after firing on two commercial ships and threatening any vessels from the United States or its allies

U S Pompeo accuses European allies of ‘siding with ayatollahs’

Pompeo

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo slammed Washington’s European allies in a Thursday news conference from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), claiming that while officials from Germany, France and the UK have privately expressed support for the extension of the arms embargo on Iran, they publicly “chose to side with Ayatollahs.”

“We will never allow the Islamic Republic of Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” Pompeo remarked during his UNSC speech.


After admonishing France, Germany and the UK, he went on to applaud the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)nations – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia – stating they “deserve praise for showing courage and unity in warning about the danger from Iran.”

He then referenced the GCC’s August 9 statement to the UN, which called for an extension of the international arms embargo, set to expire on October 18.

“It is inappropriate to lift restrictions on the supply of weapons from and to Iran until Iran gives up its destabilizing activities in the region and stops supplying terrorist and sectarian organizations with weapons,” GCC Secretary-General Nayef Falah Mubarak al-Hajraf said, as reported by Reuters.

The three European nations have since issued a joint statement explaining that they, as still-active members of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) agreement, cannot support the US’ push for a “snapback” mechanism because it violates the agreement.
“France, Germany and the United Kingdom (‘the E3’) note that the US ceased to be a participant of the JCPoA following their withdrawal from the deal on May 8, 2018,” they wrote.

“We remain committed to the JCPoA despite the significant challenges caused by US withdrawal. We believe that we should address the current issue of systematic Iranian non-compliance with its JCPoA obligations through dialogue between JCPoA participants.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif issued a tweet earlier Thursday, labeling the US arms embargo extension attempt as “illegitimate and felonious.”

Russia and China have both expressed support for Iran, with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov even calling Washington’s push for sanctions “absurd.”

“We have repeatedly said that the US has already withdrawn from the JCPOA and therefore has no right to request the restoration of the UN sanctions regime against Iran,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian noted during a briefing.



Source: Sputnik

United States says interception of Iranian aircraft was to ensure safety of American forces in Syria

These outlaws must be stopped before disaster - Iranian Zarif

The U.S. Central Central Command confirmed on Friday, that an F-15 fighter approached the Iranian plane to verify its identity and to ensure the security of U.S. forces at the Al-Tanf base in Syria.

“An American F-15 fighter carried out a routine air mission in the coalition forces area in Tanf area in Syria and approached the Mahan civilian plane tonight at a safe distance of about 1,000 meters, so that it could be seen,” the command said in a statement.

On Thursday, Passengers on plane were injured over Syria after the pilot changed altitude to avoid collision with a US fighter jet, according to Iranian media, but the United States military said its F-15 kept a safe distance.

The Iranian plane  belonging to Mahan Air was heading from Tehran to Beirut when the pilot staged a safety manoeuver, in an incident that Iran's Foreign Ministry said would be investigated.

 Iran has since dismissed the US explanation as "unjustified and unconvincing".

"The harassment of a passenger plane on the territory of a third country is a clear violation of aviation security and freedom of civilian aircraft," Laya Joneydi, vice president for legal affairs, was quoted as saying by Iranian media.

Also on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused the United States of risking a disaster.

Zarif said the U.S. illegality and lawlessness upon lawlessness must stop against the Islamic State of Iran.

U.S. illegally occupies territory of another State and then harasses a scheduled civil airliner—endangering innocent civilian passengers—ostensibly to protect its occupation forces.

Audacity to compound lawlessness upon lawlessness

These outlaws must be stopped before disaster.

— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) July 24, 2020

The Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed that it would study the details of the incident regarding the interception of the Mahan aircraft, vowing to take political and legal measures against the U.S. after the investigation.

The pilot of the Iranian passenger plane, which is affiliated with Mahan, confirmed that the military aircraft that intercepted the plane were American.

“The plane that dangerously approached us and posed a threat to us was American because I contacted the fighter pilots and identified themselves as Americans,” the pilot told Iranian television.

Beirut International Airport also announced that a number of passengers were wounded on the Iranian plane that landed at the airport after being subjected to air harassment by an unidentified war plane.

 the head of the Beirut airport told Reuters News Agency that all the passengers left the plane, some with minor injuries. 

The plane arrived back in Tehran in the early hours of Friday, the Fars news agency reported.

This is the latest incident in the series of tensions between Tehran and Washington, with ties deteriorating since 2018 when US President Donald Trump exited Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with six world powers and reimposed regime of sanctions that have battered Iran's economy which Tehran has variously described as economic terrorism against the Persians.

US and Israel have long accused Mahan Air of transporting weapons to Iran-backed armed groups in Syria which may have been one of the reasons why the US chose to take a closer look at the aircraft to check whether there were passengers on board.

Also, the US imposed sanctions on Mahan Air in 2011, saying it provided financial and other support to Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran's foreign ministry then sent a protest note  to the Swiss Embassy, which represents US interests in Iran, warning that if any accident happens on the plane's return flight to Tehran, it will be the US's responsibility.